Burris has campaign web site, but not much on it

Less than 90 minutes after being sworn into the U.S. Senate last month, Burris formed the Burris For Senate campaign committee, with a Web address at supportburris.com.

Bruce Rushton

Roland Burris didn’t waste much time.

Less than 90 minutes after being sworn into the U.S. Senate last month, Burris formed the Burris For Senate campaign committee, with a Web address at supportburris.com.

The domain name was secured Jan. 5, 10 days before Burris took the oath of office.

“It’s the sort of thing that new senators do,” says Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

But Burris is no ordinary senator.

In public statements, the junior senator from Illinois has been coy about whether he will seek election in 2010.

“The senator has made no definitive plan regarding the 2010 race,” said Jim O’Connor, Burris’ spokesman in the Senate.

Burris has also kept his cards close in private.

“He told Sen. Durbin that he had not yet made up his mind about running in 2010,” said Christina Mulka, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who told Burris Tuesday that Burris should consider stepping down.

A top Burris advisor says the senator hasn’t ruled out a run.

“We’re just taking it one step at a time now,” said a woman at a Chicago political consulting firm who said she was speaking on behalf of Delmarie Cobb, who advises Burris. “He does, of course, have a campaign committee.

“Right now, his legal bills are in the six figures,” the spokeswoman said, although she added that no decision has been made on whether the senator will tap his campaign fund to pay for lawyers.

From the White House down, politicians are urging Burris to resign. In testimony before a legislative panel investigating former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Burris neglected to mention that he had talked about campaign contributions with people close to Blagojevich while also coveting a seat in the U.S. Senate. One of the accusations made against the former governor is that he tried to sell the Senate seat Burris now occupies.

Going online is a different matter than going on the campaign trail, and Burris’ Web site is sparse.

“Legislation,” “Endorsements,” “Accomplishments,” “Issues,” “News Articles” — these sections are all blank. The “Biography” section contains 500 words about Burris’ career, and he names his wife and children in the “Family” section.

Readers who wish to contribute can click the “Contribute” box, with options for Visa, Mastercard and American Express, but not PayPal.

Just how many people have clicked is a mystery. Burris’ first contribution report isn’t due until March 31, and Fred Lebed, treasurer for the Burris For Senate committee, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Redfield doubts the line of donors stretches very far.

“I think he’s going to have a hard time raising money,” Redfield said. “I think he’s basically unelectable at this point. He has no support from the national Democrats. He has no support from the state Democrats. If we had a Republican president, he wouldn’t be doing the Democratic response.

“He’s going to be a very lonely person.”

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